Winch



Aug. 18, 1953 R. HAsTlNGs, JR

WINCH 2 lshams-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1948 a5 Iaaveaov zseZZ like vgymA/wl R. HASTINGS, JR

Aug. 1s, 1953 WINCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. '7, 1948 amada Hawqgf tgwwlm @aan s Patented Aug. 18, 1953 WINCH Russell Hastings, Jr., Wellesley, Mass., assignor to Lewis-Shepard Company, Watertown, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 7, 1948, Serial No. 915

23 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in crank operated Winches and the general object of the invention is to provide a winch unit of compact construction for general utility in hoisting apparatus of various types employed in material handling equipment.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a crank operated winch unit adapted to bc secured to a suitable support and comprising a cable winding drum having mechanism for rotating the drum wholly enclosed Within the drum thereby protecting the Winding mechanism from injury and from the possibility of injuring the operator. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a Winch unit which when mounted on a vertical support will, without extraneous bracing, wholly support the cable and the load carried thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a winch construction which will develop a manis mum hoisting power with a minimum of eiiort upon the part of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide the self-contained Winch construction having crank Operated mechanism therein for rotating the winch drum to wind the cable thereupon to raise the load when the crank is rotated in one direction and containing braking mechanism to control reverse rotation of the drum to lower` the load, Wholly controlled by the cra-nl; when stationary to hold the load in suspended position, or by gradual rotation of the crank; in the reverse direction to govern the descent of the load.

A further object of the invention is to provide a winch unit of compact construction in which the actuating mechanism is wholly contained within the winch drum and which can be readily assembled and disassembled therein with a minimum number of standard accessory tools.

A further object of the invention is o provide a winch unit of sealed construction insuring a maximum life with a minimum cost oi maintenance.

Another important object of the invention is to` provide a winch so constructed as to prevent injury to` the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crank operated winch having means for positioning the crank handle from nornial operating position projecting at right angles to the piane of rotation of the crank arm,` into said plane of rotation when not in use and for convenience in storing or transportation.

These and other objects or the invention win more, fully appear from the. following description 2 and accompanying drawings, and will be particu larly pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment oi the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingr drawings in which: v

Fig. l is a side elevation of the winch and illustrating the crank broken away;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical central sec tional view on line 3 3 Fig. 2 showing the position of the hoist elements while in hoisting position;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional View on line 4 4 Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional vie-v on line 5-5 Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view en line iE-S Fig. 4.

The winch illustrated in the drawings cornm prises a at base plate l, preferably or" rectangular form, adapted to be secured adjacent its corners by bolts 2 to a suitable support 3, and has a preferably central circular aperture to the Wall of which is welded a cylindrical post @l and a ller disk la: overlying the end of the post.

rihe post 4 has a long shouldered portion 5 of reduced diameter terminating in a screw threaded end. A long inner internal race for a preferably double ball bearing 6 is mounted on the reduced portion 5 of the post and clamped upon the shoulder thereof by a nut 'i on the threaded end of the post fi.

A long cylindrical member 8, which is Welded to the periphery of the nut l', is provided adjacent its outer end with a long internal gear 9 forming the ring gear o an epicyclic gear train for winding the Winch drum and at its inner end with a like gear l0 forming a ratchet adapted to be engaged by the pawl of braking mechanism for controlling the unwinding rotation of the drum. The teeth of the gears 9 and iii are in longitudinal alinement to facilitate assembling of the winch as hereinafter described.

The winch drum Il which is concentric with and narrowly spaced from the cylinder 8 ts upon the outer ball bearing race i2 and abuts against a ring i3 which is seated in and projects from an annular groove in the outer race l2 adjacent to its inner end, which is near the base plate. The drum Il is clamped rmly upon the outer race E2' by a thick collar I4 which is screwed upon the inner end of the drum and has an nwardly exten-ding annular flange l5 which` engages the inner end of the outer race I2. The collar itisv of sufficient diameter to form the inner head of the winch drum and has in its periphery a recess lli in which the end of a cable il is swaged or otherwise anchored and the groove i3 leading from the recess I6 directs the cable to the periphery of the drum upon which it is spirally wound by clockwise rotation of the drum. A pin I9 crossing the recess above the cable adjacent the groove I8 holds the cable in the groove and prevents detachment of the cable from the drum if the latter overrides in unwinding.

The rear face of the collar I4 is provided with an annular recess 2li which receives the flanged edge of a circular dust guard 2l which is secured to the base plate l.

The outer end of the winch drum has welded to it a circular head 22 the periphery7 of which extends well beyond the periphery of the drum and desirably is curved inwardly to form a guide for directing the second spiral winding of the cable in a reverse direction. The head 22 has a central circular aperture in which a bearing 23 for a drum actuating and controlling crank shaft 24 is mounted. The bearing 23 is of greater thickness than that of the drum head 22 and has an outer extension 25 of smaller diameter upon which is, mounted a packing 26 which extends into a recess in the enlarged head 2l of a crank 28 having a broached socket which ts upon the attened screw threaded end portion 2S of the crank shaft 24 and is secured thereon by a nut 3i).

A planetary gear assembly, which cooperates with the internal gear 9 of the cylinder 8 and with a sun gear rotatably mounted upon and driven by the crank shaft 24, is fixedly mounted upon the drum head 22. This assembly as shown comprises a circular plate 3| which is detachably secured to the outer face of the head 22 and is provided with suitably spaced preferably diametrically opposite sockets for the reduced end of cylindrical pins or shafts 32 which extend through the drum head and are mounted at their inner ends upon a bearing plate 33 which is parallel to the drum head 22 and provided with outwardly extending legs 34 (Figs. 4 and 6) which engage and preferably are welded to the drum head.

Planetary gears 35, which are mounted upon needle bearings 35 on the pins or shafts 32, engage the stationary internal ring gear 9 on the cylinder 8 and a central sun gear, which is r0- tatably mounted on the drum actuating and controlling shaft 2li.

The winch drum and the planetary gearing thus mounted on its head form a unit which is detachably secured to the collar I4 and byit supported and rotatably mounted through the ball bearings upon the post 4 of the base plate. By reason of this construction the winch and the load carried by its cable are wholly supported upon the post l and the base plate to which it is integrally secured.

The mechanism which cooperates with the internal gears of the stationary cylinder 8 to rotate the winch drum to wind the cable thereon and to control the unwinding of the cable is in the form of a rotatable assemblage comprising the crank shaft 2li which is adapted to be inserted through the bearing 23 in the drum head 22 and the inner end of which shaft is inserted into and supported by an axial cylindrical bearing in the tubular post 4 and secured in fully erected position when the end of the winch drum is screwed into the collar I4, as above described.

This assembly comprises a sun gear which is rotatably and slidably mounted upon the drum actuating and controlling shaft 2li, and frictional mechanism movable longitudinally of said shaft, acting through planetary gearing when the shaft is rotated by its crank in a clockwise direction to impart a clockwise rotation to the drum to wind the cable thereon and upon cessation thereof to brake the drum against reverse rotation and also operable upon rotation of the crank in a counterclockwise direction controllably to release the braking action to permit unwinding of the cable at any desired rate.

As shown in the drawings the drum actuating and controlling crank shaft 2li has an outer long cylindrical section 3l, which is mounted in the bearing 23 of the drum head 22, and a long central screw threaded section 38 having coarse, preferably doubleL left hand screw threads and an inner end section 3d of reduced diameter provided with a right hand screw thread lli of much less pitch, The sun gear l l, which engages the planetary gears 35 of the epicyclic train for rotating the winch drum, has a long hub section "32 which is rotatably mounted cn the cylindrical section l of the shaft 24. The hub of the sun gear abuts the inner end of the bearing 23 of the drum head 22. The sun gear has an internally screw threaded section i3 which engages the coarse central double threaded section 33 of the shaft 2 and an integral large disk portion d@ extending radially therefrom provided with a fiat friotional face 45 adapted to be engaged by a complementary frictional member mounted upon and actuated by the shaft as hereinafter described.

An annular oil guard Mr, which nts and is secured to the periphery of the disk portion 443, extends over its frictional face and a frictional member which cooperates with it.

rlhe frictional mechanism which cooperates with the face of the sun rgear disk 44 to drive the winch drum in a clockwise direction and to brake the reverse rotation thereof, comprises a brake nut 46 which is mounted on the central screw threaded section 38 of the shaft 24 and has a large disk-like central portion l and hub 48 extending rearwardly therefrom which is journaled in the bearing 49 in the tubular post il, and a hub 5@ of smaller diameter extending forwardly therefrom upon which is mounted a rotatable intermediate disk extending radially therefrom, having frictional surfaces respectively engaging the disk 44 of the sun gear, and an opposite face adapted to be engaged by a frictional washer interposed between it and the brake nut for purposes hereinafter described.

The brake nut is fixedly and adjustably secured to the screw threaded central section 38 of the shaft 2li by a nut 5l on the right hand threads 4B of the shaft extension 39 and is adapted to be held locked in adjusted position by cap screws 52 which extend through the nut 5l and are secured in the end of the hub 48.

The face of the disk il of the brake nut is provided with an annular recess in which is located a brous `brake washer 53 which engages a face of an intermediate friction transmitting disk 54 which is mounted upon the hub 5B of the brake nut intermediate of it and the disk of the sun gear. The disk 5ft is provided with a peripheral flange 55 which surrounds the disk 41 of the brake nut, and has a recess 56 in the periphery thereof in which a pawl 51, adapted to engage the internal ratchet IU on the cylinder 8, is jo-urnaled` upon. a pin 58 mounted in the walls of the recess as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.y

A leaf spring 59,. which` is secured to one endv wall of the recess 55, extends Ibeneath the pawl 5l' and holds the pawl in contact with the internal gear or ratchet l so that whenv the disk 54 is rotated ina clockwise direction the pawl will ride over the teeth of the internal gear or ratchet, but will prevent reverse rotation of the friction transmitting disk 54. For convenience in description they disk 54 will` be referred'l to aS a pawl retainer. The flange 55 is also provided. with a recess E@ in which is retained the offset end' 6| of a drag springV 62 whichr is seated in and encircles a groove in the periphery of the disk 4l of the brake nut as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The face of the pawl retainer is provided with a peripheral recess in' which is mounted an annular brake lining i63 which engagesthe' frictional face 45 of the sun diskv 44- and also has between the brake lining B3 and ther screw threaded portion 43 of the shaft 24v a concentric recess containing an annular ring E4 of oil absorbent material.

A coiled spring 65, which surrounds the reduced end portion of the Shaft 39 and abuts' at one end against the nut 5l upon the right hand screw threads 40 and at its other end has a button GB which engages the filler disk Ix of the base plate, urges the shaft 24 longitudinally toward the drum head` 22 and serves to take up all back lash between the threaded portion of the sun gear hub and that of the screw threaded section 43 of the shaft 24, for purposes hereinafter described.

In the operation of the device clockwise rotation of the crank will cause frictional engagement between the brake nut, the pawl retainer and the friction disk of the sun gear to cause the action of the epicyclic train of gearing to rotate the winch drum in a clockwise direction. Upon cessation of such rotation of the crank the pawl will engage the internal gear and ratchet to prevent reverse rotation of the drum. Counterclockwise rotation of the crank will controllably release the friction between the brake lining which engages the disk of the sun gear and the friction transmitted between the pawl retainer and the brake nut by means of the brake washer 53. The action of the drag spring upon the periphery of the disk will steady the unwinding rotation of the drum in the manner hereinafter described.

One of the features of the invention comprises a crank having a handle adapted to extend outwardly and locked in such position as toy be grasped by the operator when rotating the shaft 24 or to be turned into the plane of rotation of the radial crank arm when not in use to prevent engagement therewith by a passerby, and also to facilitate storage or packaging of the winch. In the preferred construction illustrated in the drawings the hub 21 of the -crank is integral with a tubular arm 28 of the crank and the tubular arm has adjacent its end portion a bayonet slot 5l. The crank handle comprises an arm 53 which slidably fits within the tubular arm 23 and is provided with an outwardly extending pin '5t which engages the bayonet slot bl. The coiled spring lll, which is interposed between the inner end of the arm 88 and the hub 2'! of the handle, normally forces the l@ into a portion of the bayonetl slot Sl which extends toward the end of the tubular arm. The crank arm 68 has the usual handle` supporting member 'Il which extends outwardly therefrom at. rightl angles; in parallelism to the, axis of the shaft 24 and has rotatably mounted' upon it the. usual hand-gripping sleeve l2 which is: retained in operative position illustrated' in Fig. 1 by the spring l0. which forces the pin 59 into the end of the bayonet slot 51. When the winch is not in use the handle 12 may bev swunvginto the plane of rotation of the arm 28 ofl the crank by pressing the handle radially toward the axis of rotation of the shaft until the-pin '53 has moved out of the end portion of the bayonet sloty and swung into the section thereof at right angles thereto.

The operation of the winch,

Heisman- Assuming that the winch is in idle position and the frictional members of the brake nut, the pawl retainer and friction disk out of frictional engagement anda load loosely attached to the cable but supported by other means, clockwise rotation of the crank tends tov produce, due to friction between the screw threaded engagement between the left hand screwy threaded section 43 of the shaft 24 and the hub 42 of the sun gear, a rotation of the sun gear and winch drum I l. On attempting to pick up the load such rotation is opposed by the force transmitted from the hoisting cable to the drum and the epicyclic gearing so tha-t the turning of the shaft 24' will cause ydisplacement of the shaft, left to right, with respect to the sun gear. This produces corresponding motion of the brake nut 4t which is centered upon the shaft 38, thus causing frictional engagement between the brake nut and the pawl retainer through the brake vwasher 53 and between the friction lining 63 of the pawl retainer and the friction surface 45 of` the disk 44 of the sun gear. The friction thus transmitted through these brake surfaces and through the threaded and cylindrical contacts between the sun gear 4l and the shaft 24 causes the latter parts, together with the complete brake assembly, to be locked together so that no further relative rotative movement occurs be.

tween them during the lifting operation. Continued turning of the crank in a clockwise ldirection therefore produces corresponding rotation of the sun gear 4| which in turn drives the winch drum through the epicyclic gear assembly in the same direction and the pawl 5l of the pawl retainer passes freely over the internal gear or ratchet IU of the stationary cylinder 8.

Holding the bmlce initially engaged- Upon cessation of the rotation of the crank in a clockwise direction when a loa-d is hoisted to any height the tendency of the sun gear 4l to be rotatedy in a counterclockwise direction under the action of the load Vis transmitted to the pawl retainer 54 but rotation in reverse direction is prevented by the engagement of the pawl 5l with the internal gear Ill of the stationary cylinder 8. Since the torque due to friction between the threaded section 43 of the sun gear 4I and the central threaded section 38 of the shaft 24 is less than that exerted by the Idrag spring 62 and brake washer 53 between the brake nut and the pawl retainer, any tendency to slip between the brake washer 63 and the pawl retainer and the face 45 of the disk 44 of the sun gear will cause longitudinal relative movement of the latter with respect to the shaft 24 in a direction further to tighten the brake.

Lowering with tive brake initially `engaged.-v When the load has been raised by clockwise ro-l tation of the crank and held in raised positionv upon cessation of such rotation lowering of the load is accomplished by turning the crank in a counterclockwise direction, the pawl 51 being at that time in engagement with the gear o-r ratchet teeth ID on the stationary cylinder, Frictional contact between the brake lining 63- and the friction surface 45 on the sun gear `disk 44 momentarily prevents rotation of the latter so that turning of the handle in a counterclockwise direction causes rotation of the shaft 24 within the sun gear 4| which by reason of the engagement of the threads of the sun gear with those upon the screw threaded section 43 of the shaft 24 causes the shaft to move from right to left (Fig. l). A very small amount of such relative motion reduces the friction between the brake lining 63 on the brake retainer and the face 45 of the sun gear disk 44 and between the brake washer 53 on the brake nut and the pawl retainer 54 to a value at which slipping occurs which permits the rotation of the sun gear in the same ccunterclockwise direction as that of the shaft 24. Rotation of the shaft 24 is therefore immediately followed up by a similar rotation of the sun gear under the action of the forces due to the weight upon the hoisting cable H. Any tendency of the sun gear to overrun that of the shaft 24 causes relative motion outward of the shaft with immediate closer engagement of the friction brake surfaces thereby automatically building up a retarding torque to the value required to prevent overrun. The weight on the hoisting cable is accordingly lowered at the rate exactly corresponding to the motion imparted by the counterclockwise rotation of the crank.

Lowering with, brake initially disengaged.- With the brake initially disengaged a load applied to the hoisting cable I'l tends to cause the sun gear 4I to move in a counterclockwise direction. This motion is initially opposed only by the moderate friction between the sun gear and the shaft 24, and consequently the sun gear tends to turn faster than the shaft 24 even when the latter is turned by the hand at a relatively rapid rate in lowering direction. This overhauling motion between the sun gear 4i and shaft 24 causes relative translation between them until engagement is made with the brake surfaces. Thereafter the action in lowering is identical with that above described.

When lowering with the hoist empty, or with a load insufficient itself to drive the sun gear in counterclockwise (lowering) rotation, the axial force exerted on the shaft 24 by the spring 65 takes up all backlash between the portions of the sun gear 4! and shaft 24 which are in threaded contact, thereby maintaining a minimum value of friction between them. On turning the shaft in lowering direction, the torque transmitted to the sun gear by means of this friction is, even with a completely unloaded cable sufficient to rotate the sun gear in lowering direction, preventing the disengagement of the brake, which, if it occurred would permit inward motion of the shaft until rubbing takes place between the Idisk 4l of the brake nut 40 and the end of the bearing post 4.

Holding with brake initially released-With brake released and the crank free, the application of ka sudden load to the hoisting cable tends to produce rotation of the sun gear 4I in `a counterclockwise direction, which is in turn transmitted to the shaft 24 through the friction eX-' isting in the thread and cylinder contact between these two members. The restraining torque eX- erted on the shaft 24 by means of the drag spring 62 acting through the brake nut 46 in combination with the inertia effect of the handle, is by design greater than the torque which can be transmitted due to friction between the sun gear 4l and the shaft 24, and therefore the shaft 24 does not rotate. The turning of the sun gear 4i on the shaft 2li causes relative translation of the sun' gear 4i upon the threaded section of the shaft 24, positively engaging the brake assembly which is prevented from rotating by action of the Ipawl 5'! on the internal gear teeth I0 of the stationary cylinder 3. This prevents the sun gear 4I from further rotation and holds the load stationary.

By reason of the present invention a construction is provided in which the epicyclic gear train provides a desired speed reduction between the rotation of the shaft 24 and that of the winch drum which as illustrated, for example, in the drawings is 4.3 to l, thereby enabling the operation of the winch upon a minimum amount of exertion upon the part of the operator. The epicyclic gear train is completely within the hoisting drum which not only serves as a housing but also as a member of the epicyclic train. rihe relative lproportioning of the active frictional areas of the brake lining 63 of the pawl retainer and the brake washer 53 is such that in lowering the torque developed by contact of the brake lining 63 with the friction face 45 of the sun gear disk 44 is completely adequate to hold the load against descending, while at the same time the torque developed by the contact pressure between the brake washer 53 and the pawl retainer is so moderate that very little effort is required by the operator to control the descent of the load.

The construction is so proportioned that the relative friction exerted between the drag spring 62 upon the brake nut 46 as compared with that between the threaded section of the sun gear hub 42 and that of the shaft 24 is such that upon release of the crank it remains in the same position without rotation even through a fraction of a turn, thereby avoiding possible injury to the operator which might occur by sudden rotation of the crank handle when released.

The design of the drag spring and pawl retainer is such that the friction developed by the drag spring is introduced only as required in lowering or holding and does not act during the hoisting rotation of the crank. This is due to the fact that the drag spring and the brake nut upon which it lies and the pawl retainer to which it is attached all rotate in synchronism during,r the hoisting operation which is produced by clockwise rotation of the crank and only become effective in locking the winch drum against counterclockwise rotation and during unwinding of the cable by the counterclockwise rotation of the crank under the control of the operator.

By reason of the present invention a winch is provided of novel construction in which the winch drum, the cable and the load carried thereby, and mechanism for actuating the winch drum, are all supported upon the post which is integral with the base plate adapted to be secured to a suitable support, in which the mechanisms for actuating and controlling the operation of the winch drum can be readily assembled respectively upon the supporting post and upon the head of the winch drum and the winch drum thereupon completely assembled upon the post with all the operating naar A 9 mechanism therefor housed Within the winch drum. The construction of the present invention is such that danger of injury to the operating parts or to the operator is avoided.

It will be understood that the Iparticular embodiment of the invention shown and described herein is of an illustrative character and not restrictive and that various changes in construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1i A Winch construction comprising a base plate, a tubular post rigid with and extending perpendicularly from said base having an antifriction bearing mounted thereon, a nut on the end of said post securing the bearing thereon, a winch drum detachably mounted at one end upon said bearing and having a head on its other end, an epicyclic gear train for rotating said drum including a cylinder mounted on said nut concentricaily within said drum and provided with an internal gear and with an internal ratchet, planetary gears mounted on said drum head cooperating with said internal gear, a crank actuated shaft journaled in said tubular post and drum head, a sun gear rotatably mounted on said shaft engaging said planetary gears, braking means centered upon said shaft having a spring actuated pavvl engaging said ratchet operable by rotation of said crank actuated shaft in one direction to cause engagement of said braking means with the sun gear and acting through said epicyclic train to wind the cable on the drum o and to cause said pawl to ride over the teeth of said ratchet and operable upon cessation of said rotation to cause engagement of the pavvl with the ratchet to prevent reverse rotation of the drum, said braking mechanism having means operable by reverse rotation of said crank shaft to control unwinding of the cable from the drum.

2. A winch construction comprising a base plate having a post rigid therewith and extending perpendiculariy therefrom, a cable winding drum rotatably mounted en said post and having a head, cooperating members or an epicyclic reduction gear train for rotating said drum to wind the cable thereon comprising an internal gear iinediy mounted on said post, complementary planetary gears rotatably mounted on said drum head engaging said internal gear, a sun gear rotatably mounted upon a crank shaft journaled in said post and said drum head and completely enclosed Within said drum, a crank rotating said shaft, and means for irictionally transmitting rotation of said crana shaft to said sun gear.

3. AV winch construction comprising a base plate having a tubular post rigid therewith and extending perpendicularly therefrom, a cable winding drum vrotatably mounted on said post` having a head provided with a central bearing, a crank shait journaled in said tubular post and the bearing in said head and provided therebetween with a sun gear, cooperating members of an epicyciic gear train operable by the sun gear for rotating said drurn to wind the cable on said drum, and braking mechanism cooperating therewith to actuate said gear train and to control unwinding rotation of the drum mounted respectively on said post and upon said drum al1 cornpietely enclosed within said drum, said crank shaft being operable when rotated in one direction to actuate said ep-icyclio gear train and operable when rotated in the reverse direction to permit unwinding rotation of the drum and controllably to brake the rotation thereof and thereby regulateth'e descent of the load.

4. A winch construction comprising a base having a tubular post rigid therewith and extending perpendiculariy therefrom and having a bearing therein, a winch drum rotatably mounted at one end on said post and having at its other end a head provided with a central bearing positioned in axial alinement with the bearing in the tubular post and having concentric therewith planetary gears of an epicyclic gear reduction train, a cylinder' iixedly mounted on said post having adjacent its outer end an internal gear engaging said planetary gears and having spaced therefrom an internal ratchet, a crank shaft assembly having a sun gear rotatably mounted upon said shaft engaging said planetary gears and a brake mechanism journaied upon said shaft having a spring actuated pawl to engage the internal ratchet of said cylinder and frictionai means releasably to engage said sun gear operable upon rotation of the crank shaft in one direction to rotate the drum to wind the cable thereon and to cause riding engagement of the pawl with the ratchet and 'upon cessation of said rotation to cause the pawl to engage said ratchet and prevent reverse rotation of the drum and operable upon rotation of the crank in the reverse direction controllably to reduce the force of frictional engagement between said brake mechanisrn and sun gear to permit unwinding rotation of the drum by the weight or" the load and to regulate the descent of the load.

5. A winch construction 'comprising a base having a tubular post rigid therewith and eirtending perpendicularly therefrom and having a bearing therein, a winch drum rotatably mounted at one end on said post and having at its other end a head, provided with a bearing positioned in axial alinement with the bearing in the tubular post and having concentric therewith pianetary gears of an epicyclic gear reduction train, a cylinder iixedly mounted on said post having adjacent its outer end an integral internal gear engaging said planetary gears and having spaced therefrom an integral internal ratchet, a crank shaft assembly rotatably mounted in the bearings in said head and said tubular post and longitudinally movable therein having a contrai screw threaded section, a sun gear of said epicyclic train rotatably mounted on said shaft having a hub with screw threads engaging the screw threaded section of said shaft and a frictional surface extending radially outwardly therefrom, a brake mechanism centered upon said shaft having frictional means cooperating with the frictional surface of said sun gear, and a spring actuated pawl engaging said ratchet, said crank shaft assembly being operable when the cranir thereof is rotated in a clockwise direction to cause frictional engagement of said brake mechanism with said sun gear yand thereby rotate the drum through said epicyclic train with the pawl riding over the ratchet during such rotation and upon cessation of said rotation to cause engagement of said pavvl with said ratchet to prevent reverse rotation of the drum and operable upon the reverse rotation of the crank shaft controllably to reduce the force of friction'al engagement between said brake mechanism and the sun gear thereby to permit unwinding rotation oi the drum by the weight of the load on the cable and regulate the descent of the load;

6. A winch construction comprising a base plate having a tubular post rigid therewith and extending perpendicularly therefrom having an outer antifriction bearing and an inner bearing, a winch drum detachably mounted at one end on said outer bearing and having at its other end a head having a central bearing positioned in alinement with the inner bearing of said tubular post, a cylinder mounted on said post within and concentric with said drum and provided with an internal gear of an epicyclic gear train, a crank shaft assembly comprising a shaft rotatabiy and slidably mounted in the bearing in said drum head, a sun gear rotatably mounted on said shaft engaging the planetary gears, means xedly secured to said shaft operable by rotation thereof in one direction to move said shaft axially in said bearing effectively to cause engagement with said sun gear to rotate it, said shaft assembly being adapted to be mounted in the drum head by insertion of the shaft through the bearing thereof and the winch assembled as a whole by securing the other end of the drum to the outer bearing of the post.

7. A winch construction comprising a base plate having a tubular post rigid therewith and extending perpendicularly therefrom having an outer antifriction bearing and an inner bearing, a winch drum detachably mounted at one end on said outer bearing and having at its other end a head having a central bearing positioned in alinement with the inner bearing of said tubular post, a cylinder mounted on said post within and concentric with said drum and provided with an integral internal gear of an epicyclic gear train, and an integral internal annular ratchet spaced therefrom, a crank shaft assembly comprising a shaft rotatably and slidably mounted in the bearing in said drum head, a sun gear rotatably mounted on said shaft engaging the planetary gears, and having braking mechanism provided with a spring actuated pawl cooperating with said ratchet operable by the rotation of the shaft in one direction to move the shaft axially in said bearing eectively to cause engagement of the braking means with said sun gear to rotate it and through the epicyclic train to rotate the drum to wind the cable thereon, said braking mechanism being operable upon rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction to control the reverse rotation of the drum to lower the load, said shaft assembly being mounted on the drum head by insertion of the shaft through the bearing thereof and the winch assembled as a whole by inserting the opposite end of the shaft into the inner bearingr of the post and securing the other end of the drum to the outer bearing on the post.

8. A winch construction comprising a base having a tubular post rigid therewith and extending perpendicularly therefrom, an outer antifriction bearing on said post and an inner bearing within said post, a winch drum mounted at one end upon said outer bearing, a collar having screw threaded connection with said end and having a flange engaging the outer end of said antifriction bearing, a head upon the opposite end of said drum provided with a bearing positioned in axial alinement with the bearing in the tubular post and having concentric therewith planetary gears of an epicyclic gear reduction train, a clamping nut mounted on the end of said post securing said outer bearing from longitudinal movement thereon, a cylinder xedly mounted on said post having adjacent its outer end an integral internal gear engaging said planetary gears' and having spaced therefrom an integral internal ratchet, a crank shaft assembly rotatably mounted in the bearings of said head and said tubular post and longitudinally movable therein having a screw threaded central section, a sun gear of said epicyclic train rotatably mounted on said shaft having a hub with screw threaded engagement with the screw threaded section of said shaft, and a frictional surface extending radially outwardly therefrom, a brake nut having a hub mounted on said screw threaded section of said shaft, a lock nut mounted on a reversely screw threaded section of said shaft engaging the end of said hub for locking the brake nut in adjusted position to said shaft, a reduced hub portion of said brake nut extending in the opposite direction, an annular brake washer located in said brake nut surrounding the reduced hub portion, a pawl retainer rotatably mounted on said reduced hub portion having in its periphery a spring actuated pawl engaging said ratchet and a drag spring secured to said pawl retainer encircling a groove in said brake nut, the face of said pawl retainer having a brake lining of greater diameter than that of said brake nut engaging the face of said sun gear, and means for rotating said shaft to cause longitudinal movement of said sun gear thereby to cause effective frictional engagement of the brake lining of the pawl retainer with said sun gear andthe washer between the pawl retainer and said brake nut thereby to cause rotation of said sun gear and through said epicyclic train to rotate said drum in a direction to wind the cable thereon and upon rotation of said crank shaft in the opposite direction to reduce said frictional engagement thereby to control reverse rotation of the drum to lower the load on the cable.

9. A winch construction comprising a base plate having a tubular post extending perpendicularly therefrom provided with an internal cylindrical bearing, a cable winding drum rotatably mounted at one end upon said post and having a head upon the other end provided with a central bearing and having journaled in said head a series of planetary gears of an epicyclic train, a cylinder concentric with said drum rigidly mounted on said post and provided with an integral internal gear of said epicyclic train and spaced therefrom with an integral annular ratchet, a crank shaft assembly comprising a crank shaft having a cylindrical section rotatably and slidably mounted in the central bearing in said drum headfand a central section having coarse left hand screw threads, a sun gear of said epicyclic gear train having a hub rotatably mounted on said shaft provided with screw threads engaging those of said central section and an integral radial disk portion having a friction surface, a brake nut having a hub iixedly and adjustably mounted on said screw threaded section journaled in said tubular post and having a disk extending radially therefrom and a hub section of relatively small diameter extending therefrom, a pawl retainer rotatably mounted on said smaller hub having at its periphery a pawl engaging said ratchet and having a drag spring secured to it encircling a groove in the periphery of said brake nut disk, an annular brake washer surrounding said smaller hub section with its two faces respectively engaging said brake nut and said pawl retainer disk, a brake lining on the periphery of the face of said pawl retainer disk of greater diameter than the brake washer engaging the sun gear disk, said assembly being operable by the rotation of said shaft by its crank in a clockwise direction to move the sun disk shaft longitudinally and cause eifective frictional engagement of said cooperating members thereby to rotate the cable winding drum in a clockwise direction to wind the cable thereon and operable upon cessation of said winding rotation of said crank to cause engagement of said pawl and ratchet and upon reverse rotation of said crank controllably to reduce the engagement of said frictonal members to permit reverse rotation of the drum and regulate the descent of the load carried by the cable, the relative proportion ing of the active frictional areas of the brake linn ing on the pawl retainer disk and the brake washer being such that in lowering the torque developed by contact of the sun gear disk with the brake lining of the pawl retainer is completely adequate to hold the load against descending while at the same time the torque developed by contact pressure of the brake washer with the adjacent brake nut and with the disk of the pawl retainer is so moderate as to require very little effort upon the part of the operator to control the descent of the load.

l0. A winch construction comprising a base plate having a tubular post extending perpendicularly therefrom provided with an internal cylindrical bearing, a cable winding drum rotatably mounted at one end upon said post and having a head upon the other end provided with a central bearing and having journaled on said head planetary gears of an epicyclic train, a cylinder concentric with said drum rigidly mounted on said post and provided' with an integral internal gear of said epicyclic train and spaced 'there` from with an integral annular ratchet, a crank shaft assembly comprising a crank shaft having a cylindrical section rotatably and slidably mounted in the bearings in said post and in said drum head, a central section of said crank shaft having coarse left hand screw threads, a sun gear of said epicyclic gear train having a hub rotatably mounted on said crank shaft provided with screw threads engaging those of said central section and an integral radial disk portion having a friction surface, a brake nut having a hub nxedly and adjustably mounted on .said screw threaded section journaled in said tubular post and having a disk extending radially therefrom and a hub section of relatively small diameter extending therefrom, a pawl retainer disk rotatably mounted on said smaller hub having at its periphery a pawl engaging said ratchet and having a drag spring secured to it encircling the periphery of said brake nut disk, an annular brake washer surrounding said smaller hub with its two faces respectively engaging the brake nut and the pawl retainer disk, a brake lining on the periphery of the face of the pawl retainer of greater diameter than said washerengaging the s un. gear disk, said assembly/being operable by the rotation of said shaft by its crank in a clockwise direction to move the sun disk shaft longitudinally and cause effective frictional engagement of said cooperating membersthereby to roVVT tate the cable winding drum inav clockwise direction to wind the cable thereon and operable upon cessation of said winding rotation ofl said crank to cause engagement of vsaid,pearl and ratchet and upon reverse rotation of said crank ccntrollably to reduce the engagement of frictional members to permit reverse lrotationof the drum andfregulate the: descent of theload carried.V by the cablev-thelrelative proportioning of the rctional areas of the brake lining on the pawl retainer disk and the brake washer between the pawl retainer andthe brake nut together with the friction exerted by the drag spring against the brake nut as compared with the friction between the screw threads of the sun gear and those of the shaft being such that upon cessation of rotation of the crank and engagement of the pawl with the ratchet the crank will be caused to remain in the same position without rotation even through a fraction of a turn.

ll. A winch construction comprising a base plate having a tubular post extending perpendicularly therefrom provided with an internal cylindrical bearing, a cable winding drum rotatably mounted at one end upon said post and having a head upon the other end provided with a central bearing and having journaled on said head planetary gears of an epicyclic train, a cyl inder concentric with said drum rigidly mounted on said post and provided with an integral internal gear of said epicyclic train and spaced therefrom with an integral annular ratchet, a crank shaft assembly comprising a shaft having a cylindrical section rotatably and slidably mounted in the bearing in said drum head, a central section having coarse left hand screw threads, a sun gear of said epicyclic gear train having a hub rotatably mounted on said shaft provided with screw threads engaging those of said central section and an integral radial disk portion having a friction surface, a brake nut having a hub xedly and adjustably mounted on said screw threaded section `iournaled in said tubular post and having a disk extending radially therefrom and a hub section of relatively small diam eter extending therefrom, a pawl-carrying disk rotatably mounted on said smaller hub having at its periphery a pawl engaging said ratchet and having a drag spring secured to it encircling the periphery of said brake disk, an annular brake washer surrounding said smaller hub with its two faces respectively engaging the brake nut and the pawl retainer disk,r a brake lining on the periphery of the face of the par-.1l retainer of greater diameter than said washer engaging the sun gear disk, said assembly being operable by the rotation of said shaft by its crank in a clockwise direction to move the sun disk shaft longitudinally and cause effective frictional engagement of said cooperating members thereby to rotate the cable winding drum in a clockwise direction to wind the cable thereon and operable upon cessation of said winding rotation of said crank to cause engagement of said paw-1 and ratchet and upon reverse rotation of said crank controllably to reduce the engagement of said frictional members to permit reverse rotation of the drum and regulate the descent of the load carried by the cable, the design of the drag spring and pawl retainer being such that the friction developed by the drag spring is introduced only as required in the holding or the lowering rotationof the drum and does not act during the hoisting rotation thereof because of the fact that the drag spring and brake nut upon which it rides and the pawl retainer to which it is at-v tached all rotate in synchronism during the hoisting operation.

12. A winch [construction comprising a base plate with a tubular post extending perpendicularly therefrom having a cylindrical internal bearing and having an external shouldered cylindrical portion yprovided with a screw threaded end, an antifriction bearing having an inner race mounted on the external cylindrical portion of said post, a nut on said threaded end clamping the inner race against the shoulder on said post, a stationary cylinder mounted on said post having an internal ratchet and an internal gear, a cable Winding drum mounted on the outer race of antifriction bearing on said post having an externally threaded inner end, an internally threaded collar mounted on the threaded end of said drum having a flange. engaging the inner end of the outer race of said antifriction bearing, a circular head xedly secured to the other end of said drum having a central bearing in axial aiinement with the internal bearing in said post, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing, mechanisms mounted respectively on said shaft and drum head cooperating with the internal gear and ratchet of said stationary cylinder for rotating the drum in a cable winding direction and for controllably braking the unwinding rotation of the drum wholly enclosed in the winding drum and forming a unit therewith when assembled in cooperative relation to the stationary cylinder by screwing the collar upon the threaded end of the drum into engagement with the outer race of the antifriction bearing member on said post.

13. A winch construction comprising a base plate with a tubular post extending perpendicularly therefrom provided with an internal cylindrical bearing and a shouldered external cylindrical portion concentric therewith and an antifriction bearing mounted on said cylindrical portion, means for holding said bearing against longitudinal movement, a cable winding drum having an externally screw threaded end mounted on said bearing, an internally threaded collar` detachably engaging said end having a ange overlying and engaging the inner end of said bearing, a circular head ixedly secured to the other end of said drum and having a central bearing, a crank shaft mounted in said bearing acting when the winding drum is assembled upon said antiirlction bearing and secured thereon by said collar to position the end of said crank shaft in the internal bearing of the tubular post and drum actuating mechanism and braking mechanisin within said drum respectively operable by the rotation of the crank shaft in one direction to wind the cable upon the drum and upon cessation of such rotation to prevent unwinding rotation of the drum by the weight of the load upon the cable.

14. A Winch construction comprising a base plate with a tubular post extending perpendicularly therefrom having an internal bearing and a shouldered external cylindrical portion concentric therewith and an antifriction bearing having an internal race mounted on said external cylindrical portion of said post and an external race, means for holding said bearing against longitudinal movement, a cable winding drum having an externally screw threaded inner end mounted on the outer race of said bearing, an internally threaded collar detachably engaging the externally threaded end of said drum having a flange overlying and engaging the rear face oi the external race of said anti-friction bearing, a circular head xedly secured to the outer end of said drum and having a central bearing, a crank shaft mounted in said bearing and in the bearing in said post acting when the winding drum is assembled upon said antifriction bearing and secured thereon by said collar to position the inner end of said crank shaft in the internal bearing of the tubular post with drum actuating" mechanism and braking mechanism wholly within said drum including differential frictional means respectively operable by the rotation of the crank shaft in one direction to wind the cable upon the drum and upon cessation of such rotation to prevent unwinding rotation of the drum by the weight of the load upon the cable, and operable when the crank shaft is rotated in the reverse direction controllably to permit unwinding rotation of the drum with little effort upon the part of the operator and upon release of the crank to cause it to remain in that position thereby to avoid possible injury to the operator by the sudden motion of the crank when released.

15. A winch comprising a base plate, a post and cylindrical member rigid with said base plate and extending perpendicularly therefrom, a cable winding drum concentric with and overlying said post and member, said drum closed at its outer end by a head integral therewith and having an annular closure at its inner end between said drum and post to provide a substantially sealed inner space, said drum rotatably mounted on said post upon an antifriction bearing and receiving its sole support therefrom, crank actuated mechanisms concentric with the axis of said drum and supported at the inner end by said post and at the outer end by the closed end of said drum for rotating the drum to wind the load supporting cable on said drum to raise the load and for controlling reverse rotation of the drum to lower the load, said mechanism being Wholly enclosed within said sealed inner space.

16. A winch comprising a base plate, a post having a central opening therein rigid with said base plate and extending perpendicularly therefrom, a cable winding drum closed at its outer end and rotatably mounted on said post by means of an antifriction bearing capable of supporting a substantial load, said drum receiving its sole support from said bearing, and crank actuated mechanisms wholly enclosed Within said drum and extending in part into said central opening and operable by rotation of the crank in one direction to rotate the drum in like direction to Wind the load supporting cable upon the drum and operable upon rotation of the crank in a reverse direction controllably to permit lowering of the load, said crank shaft being free of any bending load imposed by said drum.

17. A Winch comprising a base plate, a tubular post rigid with said base plate extending perpendicularly therefrom, a cable winding drum having one end rotatably mounted on said post and supported axially thereof and receiving its sole support therefrom and provided with a head having a bearing in alinement with said post, a crankshaft mounted in said bearing and said post and being free of any bending load imposed by said drum, complementary mechanisms mounted respectively on said drum, tubular post and shaft, said mechanisms wholly enclosed in said drum and operable respectively by the rotation of said shaft by its crank in one direction to rotate the drum in the same direction to wind the load supporting cable upon the drum and operable by rotation of said shaft by its crank in a reverse direction to control unwinding rotation of the drum.

18. A winch comprising a base plate, a tubular post having a cylindrical extension, said post rigid with and extending perpendicularly from said base plate, an antifriction bearing mounted on said post and secured against longitudinal movement thereon, a cable winding drum detachably mounted at one end on said antifriction bearing and receiving its sole support therefrom and having a head at its other end, cooperating crank operated mechanisms including .a crank shaft which is free of any bending load imposed by said drum concentric with said drum mounted within said post extension and drum head and all wholly enclosed within said drum, said mechanisms operable by rotation of the crank in one direction to Wind the cable upon the drum and to hold the drum from rotation upon cessation of the Winding rotation of the crank and operable by rotation of the crank in the reverse direction to control unwinding rotation of the drum throughout the lowering of the load.

19. A winch comprising a base plate, a post having a central opening therein rigid with said base plate and extending perpendicularly therefrom, a cylindrical member concentric with and extending from said post, -a cable winding drum concentric with and overlying said post and member, said drum closed at its outer end by a head integral therewith and having an annular closure at its inner end between said drum and post to provide a substantially sealed inner space, said drum rotatably mounted on said post upon an anti-friction bearing and receiving its sole support therefrom, crank actuated mechanisms including a crank shaft which is free of any bending load imposed by said drum concentric with the axis of said drum with one end thereof extending into said central opening and supported by said post, the other end supported by the closed end of lsaid drum, said mechanisms operable upon rotation of said crank to rotate said drum to Wind a load supporting cable thereon and upon rotation of said crank in the reverse direction to rotate said drum in the reverse direction and to unwind said cable therefrom, said mechanisms being wholly enclosed within said sealed inner space.

20. A winch comprising a base plate, a post having an enlarged extension, said post rigid with said base plate and extending` perpendicularly therefrom, a cable winding drum open at one end and closed at the other rotatably mounted on said post by antifriction bearings and receiving its sole support therefrom, crank actuated mechanisms for rotating said drum to wind a load supporting cable on said drum to raise a load carried thereby and for controlling reverse rotation of the drum to lower the said load, said crank actuated mechanisms comprising a shaft passing through the center of the closed end of said drum and gearing connected to said shaft, extension and closed end of said drum, said shaft being free of any bending load imposed by said drum, said mechanisms enclosed Wholly within the space defined by said post, extension and the closed end of said drum.

2l. A Winch as set forth in claim 15 and said mechanisms including a clutch releasable upon reverse movement of said crank.

22. A winch as set forth in claim 16 and said mechanisms including a clutch releasable upon said crank being rotated in said reverse direction.

23. A winch as set forth in claim 20 and said mechanisms including a clutch releasable upon reverse movement of said crank thereby permitting said reverse rotation.

RUSSELL HASTINGS, J R.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Jan. 22, 1941 Number Number 

